But before he could respond, Jasper suddenly turned toward Amara with narrowed eyes.
“Wait a second,” he said suspiciously. “Why did you even let your ex-husband stay here?”
Then he frowned harder.
“When did he even come here?”
Elias ignored Jasper. Instead, he leaned forward and stretched out his hand toward Amara, his gaze fixed on her as if she were the only person in the room.
His voice came out rough with tiredness. “Amara…”
He tried to reach her, fingers curling slightly as if to pull her closer and make her sit beside him on the couch.
But Amara shifted instantly to the side, avoiding his hand.
Her brows knit together as she looked up at him. “What are you still doing here? Don’t you have work or something? Why are you still here?”
Elias froze for a fraction of a second, then his expression turned sharp. He suddenly pointed toward Jasper instead, his tone rising. “Why is he still here? Shouldn’t he leave? What is he even doing in this house at this hour?”
Jasper let out a loud, disbelieving scoff, pushing himself upright on the couch. “I live here too. This is my house as well.”
He gestured around them as if the entire situation was absurd. “You’re the one who shouldn’t be here.”
Elias snapped back immediately, voice cutting through the room. “Exactly. Why is my wife living with you? Get out.”
Amara rolled her eyes so hard she almost turned away in exasperation, her arms crossing tightly over her chest. “I am not your wife. I’m your ex-wife. And I have nothing to do with you anymore, so you don’t get to question who lives in my apartment.”
Jasper leaned forward slightly, clearly fed up now, adding bluntly, “That’s right! Amara and I have known each other longenough to live together comfortably. It’s none of your business, Mr. Creed.”
He gave Elias a pointed look. “Maybe it’s time you stop interfering in your ex’s life. It’s not a good look on someone like you. Honestly, it just makes you look desperate.”
Elias’s jaw tightened so hard a muscle ticked in his cheek. For a moment, he looked like he might actually snap. His gaze flicked briefly toward the dining table, then back to Jasper—sharp, dangerous, restrained only by effort.
Then he exhaled sharply and turned back to Amara instead.
“Why are you living in a place like this?” he said, voice low but firm. “I’ll buy you a new house. You can move there. You don’t need to stay here with random people.”
Jasper immediately straightened. “I’m not a stranger. She has known me for years. We’re close friends.”
Elias didn’t even look at him this time. His eyes stayed locked on Amara, waiting, intense and unblinking.
Amara shook her head, her expression firm. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I don’t want a new apartment, Elias. Just leave. Go back to work or do something else.”
Silence settled for half a beat.
Instead of leaving, Elias’s expression shifted—almost satisfied, as if her refusal hadn’t bothered him at all. He casually crossed one leg over the other, leaning back slightly into the couch like he belonged there.
“I want breakfast,” he said simply.
“Then ask your assistant to make it for you,” Amara said flatly.
Elias didn’t move. Instead, he folded his arms across his chest and leaned back further into the couch, completely settling in like he owned the place.
“I want breakfast from you,” he said stubbornly. His eyes stayed on her. “I’m your guest. Don’t you think it’s a bit impolite to leave me like this?”
Amara stared at him for a second, then rolled her eyes. “I don’t care.”
Elias’s expression didn’t even change. He leaned his head back slightly against the couch, completely unfazed.
